Form fitting insole for shoes



Aug, 16, 1966 F. M. GILKl-:RSON 3,266,178

FORM FITTING INSOLE FOR SHOES Original Filed April 4. 1960 Z0 ZZ 'f IIIIII'lllllllllllllIl/llllll/M United States Patent O "ice 3,266,i78 FORM FHTTING INSLE FR SHOES Francis M. Gilkerson, 5029 N. lLalte Drive, Miiwaukce i9, `Wis.

Griginal application Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,764, now Patent No. 3,091,042, dated May 28, i963. Divided and this application Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 272,900

2 Claims. (Cl. S16-43) The present application is a division of application Serial No. 19,764, filed Apri'l 4, 1960, now Patent No. 3,091,- 042, granted May 28, 1963.

The present invention relates generally to the shoe art, and more particularly to a novel insole structure for stock shoes produced under known production methods.

It has long been desirable to provide a stock shoe by present production methods for the general trade, which is effectively lform fitting las to the insole, yet has the external appearance of the accepted shoe of today. 'It has been desirable to provide a shoe including an insole having a substantial support for the longitudinal arch and formed generally to keep the entire foot in a balanced position to prevent the foot from slipping sideways or longitudinally in the shoe. It is also desirable that the provision thereof not interfere with present day conventional mass .production methods, styling, or fitting of shoes. There has long existed the need for a shoe which properly positions the nonmal `foot of a wearer, which can be purchased at the `usual retail outlets, and which has the external appearance and style, as desired, of current shoes. Special ortho pedic shoes can be purchased and various inserts are available, but a shoe providing proper positioning of the foot and maximum comfort for the run-of-the mill purchaser is not available as a stock item in the retail stores today.

rIlherefore, an object of the present -invention is to provide a novel shoe construction which fulfills the longnelt need as set forth in the foregoing paragraph.

In brief, the present novel shoe construction includes a prernolded insole formed, for example, of a suitable cork and rubber compound, or the like, which is contoured to provide a substantial support and natural fit for the longitudinal arch and to keep the enti-re foot in a balanced position, yet the interior over-all measurements of the finished shoe product are substantially the same as that of a comparable shoe using a conventional insole. The outside measurements, appearance, and styling of the shoe are not changed. In making the shoe with the insole thus contoured, a modified last is provided. A conventional last is feathered or reduced around the circumference or Iborder of the sole, and the central area thereof is filled so that convex, transverse cross section is achieved. Lasts of such predetermined modified bottom form may be provided by the last maker. Insoles are cast in molds made from the modified lasts, said insoles, in general, being con* cave in the forepart and heel areas and arched intermediate thereof to support the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Another object is to provide a novel shoe `structure in a stock shoe which includes an insole that will prevent t-he rfoot from slipping laterally or longitudinally in the wear thereof, and which has a cross section area substantially equal to that of a com-parable conventional insole.

Another object is to provide a novel cast insole for a stock shoe which is form fitting Ifor the bottom otf a normal foot, which will not lump under the toes of the wearer, thereby decreasing wear on the outer sole, and which substantially eliminates running over to the inside or to the outside of the foot.

Another ob-ject is to provide a novel shoe structure which properly positions the foot of a wearer in a stock shoe, yet offers no interference to the usual methods of 3,256,178 Patented August 16, 1966 making or styling shoes in the mass production methods of today.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a conventional last;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1,. showing the conventional last after modication in accordance with the present novel method of making a form fitting precast insole;

IFIGURE 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the last of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional View taken on the line 4--4 olf FIGURE 3, the upper part of the last being broken away for conservation of space;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, the upper portion of the last being broken away for conservation olf space;

`FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of a novel insole structure incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal, vert-ical, cross-sectional View taken on substantially the line =8-8 orf FIGURE 7;

FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 are transverse, vertical, crosssectional views taken on substantially the lines 9 9, 1tl-lfl, and 11-11 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE l2 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, crosssectional View through the forepart or vamp of a shoe :incorporating the present novel cast insole.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 1-8 indicates a conventional shoe last, while 20 indicates generally a modied shoe last made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Comparing the modified shoe last 2t) with the conventional shoe last 18, the former is beveled or feathered at 22 around the entire perimeter of the bottom or sole, as is clear from FIGURES 2-5. In a size 7 last for mens shoes, for example, the bevel 22 is substantially 5/32 in depth at the outer edge and feathers inwardly :for a distance of substantially 5/8. In the longitudinal arch area, the bevel depth is substantially twice as great, or 5/15", and the inward feathering is correspondingly more. The island area defined by the inner circumference of the bevel 22 is deeper or thicker than the comparable area of the shoe last i8, being substantially V16 thicker in the center area, feathering outwardly into the bevel 2,2 to form a smooth continuous last bottom, as is clearly illustrated in the drawing. Last makers provide these modified lasts Ztl to specifications.

A mold is made from each modified shoe last 20 by any desired method in which cast insoles 26 are made.

A cast insole 26 for a size 7 mens shoe is generally of the configuration shown in FIGURES 6-11 of the drawing. It will be observed that the novel molded insole 26 includes a raised longitudinal arch portion 28', a depressed heel cavity 30 and a generally concave portion 32 for the orepart of the foot. The marginal edge or periphery 33 of the cast insole 26 slopes inwardly, so that the bottom 35 of the cast insole 26 has substantially the same peripheral measurement or bottom outline as a standard fiat leather insole. Hence, there is no distortion outwardly of the shoe upper.

In FIGURE l2, the novel cast insole 26 is illustrated as part of a shoe 34. The shoe 34 includes the cast insole 26 disposed within a vamp 36 and vamp lining 38 and above an outsole which is glued to the inturned edges of the vamp 36 (upper) in the usual fashion of shoemaking. A small amount of filler material 42 may be disposed at each side of the present insole 26.

It is manifest that any process of shoemaking may be employed in applying the sole 40, such as the Goodyear welt, st'itchdown, McKay, and the like. A unique feature of the present invention is the fact that its use requires no change in any of the modern methods of shoemaking. The cast insole 26 is merely substituted for a conventional insole, and modified lasts 20 replace conventional lasts 18.

In FIGURE l2, it is clear that the over-all closed path made by following the vamp lining 38 and the upper surface of the cast insole 26 on a transverse vertical section is substantially the same as a similar continuous path formed by following the vamp lining 38 and the upper surface of a regular flat insole 44 indicated by dotted or broken lines. The novel cast insole 26 extends ab ove the stock flat insole 44 at the sides thereof and below it intermediate the sides. In other words, normally unoccupied space at the juncture of the insole and upper in a normal shoe is utilized by the present novel cast insole 26 in properly positioning a foot. This fact and the further factor of forming the cast insole 26 centrally of a thickness less than that of the conventional insole 44 avoids an overtight or snug t, and the requirement of an over-all deeper shoe, which the public always has resisted purchasing. This is another significant feature of the present novel shoe structure.

It is manifest that the raised longitudinal portion 28 of the cast insole 26 effects -a substantial support for the longitudinal arch of the foot. Additionally, the heel cup and the concave foreportion of the cast insole 26 provides comfortable reception for the affected portions of the foot in a manner to prevent slipping or sliding of the foot backwardly and forwardly or sideways in the shoe 34. There is no lumping of the insole under the toes, and rolling sideways of the foot to overturn or overrun the shoe either to the inside or to the outside is prevented.

It is to be understood that specific ydimensions of bevel and feathering will vary with the shoe size, or type. The marginal edge of the cast insole 26 may be varied to satisfy different methods of manufacture, as an integral portion may be provided for stitching.

Basically, the cast insole `26 is formed with the upper surface contoured for the foot and to the particular last, and the bottom surface substantially flat and of a periphery substantially equal to the periphery of the bottom of a conventional leather insole.

It is manifest that there has been provided a novel shoe structure. The objects and advantages sought therefor are achieved thereby.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes inform of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements, and rearrangement of parts, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A contoured insole for factory application in stock shoes comprising an arched surface for supporting the longitudinal arch of a foot, a concave forepart, and a concave heel portion, said contoured insole including a thickened peripheral edge area about the whole insole and a thinned central area, the periphery of the upper surface being greater than the periphery of the bottom surface and tapering to minimums at the front and rear ends of the insole, said insole having a volume substantially equal to that of a equivalent ordinary insole of substantially uniform thickness.

2. A contoured insole for factory application in stock shoes comprising a concave forepart, and a concave heel portion, said contoured insole including a thickened peripheral edge area about substantially the whole insole and a thinned central area, the periphery of the upper surface being greater than the periphery of the bottom surface `and tapering to minimums at the front and rear ends of the insole, said insole having a volume substantially equal to that of an equivalent ordinary insole of substantially uniform thickness.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,876 5/1934 Rich 36-43 X 2,301,311 1l/l942 Miner 12-146 X 2,742,657 4/1956 Sloane 12-146 2,783,553 3/1957 Scholl 36-44 X FOREIGN PATENTS 588,504 12/1958 Canada.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTOURED INSOLE FOR FACTORY APPLICATION IN STOCK SHOES COMPRISING AN ARCHED SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING THE LONGITUDINAL ARCH OF A FOOT, A CONCAVE FOREPART, AND A CONCAVE HEEL PORTION, SAID CONTOURED INSOLE INCLUDING A THICKENED PERIPHERAL EDGE AREA ABOUT THE WHOLE INSOLE AND A THINNED CENTRAL AREA, THE PERIPHERY OF THE UPPER SURFACE BEING GREATER THAN THE PERIPHERY OF THE BOTTOM SURFACE AND TAPERING TO MINIMUMS AT THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF THE INSOLE, SAID INSOLE HAVING A VOLUME SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF A EQUIVALENT ORDINARY INSOLE OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS. 